Division Targets and benchmarks set in the framework of the European Employment Strategy

The following targets and benchmarks were agreed in the context of the European Employment Strategy in 2003:

• that every unemployed person is offered a new start before reaching 6 months of unemployment in the case of young people and 12 months in the case of adults in the form of training, retraining, work practice, a job or other employability measure, combined where appropriate with on-going job search assistance,

• that 25 % of long-term unemployment should participate by 2010 in an active measure in the form of training, retraining, work practice, or other employability measure, with the aim of achieving the average of the three most advanced Member States,

• that jobseekers throughout the EU are able to consult all job vacancies advertised through Member States' employment services,

• an increase by five years, at EU level, of the effective average exit age from the labour market by 2010 (compared to 59,9 in 2001),

• the provision of childcare by 2010 to at least 90 % of children between 3 years old and the mandatory school age and at least 33 % of children under 3 years of age,

• an EU average rate of no more than 10 % early school leavers,

• at least 85 % of 22-year olds in the EU should have completed upper secondary education by 2010,

• that the EU average level of participation in lifelong learning should be at least 12,5 % of the adult working-age population (25 to 64 age group).